Foam-collector for steam-boilers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT WHELAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOAM-COLLECTOR FOR STEAM-BOILERS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 260,813, dated July 11,1882.

Application filed May 5,1ss2. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, ROBERT WHELAN, of Chicago, in the county of (look andState of Illinois, have invented certain Imprbvements in Foam-Collectorsfor Steam-Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in afoam or scum collector for steam-boilers,having a body coiled or wrapped in loose or open spiral form, closed atits ends, and provided with a discharge pipe and cook, the spiralcoiling affording a circuitous passage through which the foam or scummay enter, but through which it cannot readily return or pass out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved device, and Fig. 2 a transverse section of the same.

The object of my invention is to collect and remove the foam, scum, andother foreign matters from the water of steam-boilers, and to provideadevice for that purpose which shall be simple, cheapin construction,efficientin action, and susceptible of being readily cleaned at anytime. To this end Iconstruct the device as represented in the drawings,in which A indicates the device as a whole, consisting of a spirallywrapped or coiled body or drum, 0!, cap or end pieces, 11, and abranched outletpipe, 0, which is carried to the outside of the boilerand furnished with a cock, as usual, to permit the contents of the drumto be drawn off or blown out at any time. The drum or body is formed ofa sheet of copper or other suitable metal-though copper is preferred.coiled into a cylindrical or approximately cylindrical form, but with anarrow space or passage, d, between the coils, as shown. For the purposeof insurin g the separation of the coils or convolutions of the drum a,strips e, of copper or other metal, are coiled up with the sheet ofwhich the body is formed, being preferably first soldered or rivetedthereto, so that the coils are necessarily held aparta distance equal tothe thickness of the strips. The strips or bridge pieces 6 also serve tostiffen and strengthen the drum and afford the necessary thickness ofmetal to permit the branches of the pipe 0 to be tapped or screwed intothem for the purpose of connecting with the drum. Each end of the drumis furnished with an internally-threaded annular cap or encircling band,f, which serves to keep the ends of the drum in proper shape, and alsoto receive the threaded caps or end pieces, b, by which the ends of thedrum are closed.

The coils may be held apart by short studs or other devices; butthe planshown is deemed best, because of its simplicity, strength, andconvenience of attaching the outlet-pipes.

The device, being thus constructed, is placed within a steam-boiler, (orin some cases two or more may be used,) with the upper or inlet sidenearly on theline of the ordinary waterlevel. Foam, scum, and mattersrising to the surface ofthe water will then find their way into thepassage d, and through it into the interior of the drum a, where theywill be collected and retained, there being no movement or disturbanceof the water within the drum to cause it to'pass out again. In this waythe water is soon purified and the objectionable foaming is stopped.

The ends may be made fast, if desired; but I prefer to make one or bothdetachable, to atford ready access to the interior for cleaning orrepair. Ordinarily, however, the drum may be cleaned by simply openingthe cock or pipe 0 and allowing the steam in the boiler to blow out thecontents through said pipe. I prefer to form about two complete turns orcoils, as shown.

The device constructed as described is found to give excellent resultsin practical use.

drum a,'the strips 6, applied as shown, whereby, the coils are separatedand proper thickness of metal is secured to receive the end of theoutlet pipe or pipes, as shown.

3. A foam-collector for stean1-boilers,constructed substantially asshown and described,

and provided with detachable caps, whereby access to its interior ispermitted.

4. The herein-described foam-collector, consisting -of the coiled bodya, provided with strips 0, caps 12, and outlet-pipe c, substantially asshown and described.

ROBERT WHELAN.

Witnesses:

G. W. TURNER, J. M. C RNELL.

(No Model.) I zsh eets-sneeti.

E. -E. WHIPPLB. COMBINED SBBDER AND GULTIVATOB..-

N0.Z 60,814. I

Patehted July 11, 1882.

INVNTIU E 5 SE 5;

